Ekrem Karakoç

Binghamton University

Ekrem Karakoç

I am an Assistant Professor in the Department of Political Science at Binghamton University, SUNY. My primary field is Comparative Politics with a focus on comparative political economy and democratization. Determinants and consequences of economic inequality constitute one of my research areas. My minor field is International Relations where my interest lies in international conflict, foreign policy and international political economy. My work has appeared or is forthcoming in World Politics, Comparative Politics, Comparative Political Studies, Electoral Studies, Party Politics, European Political Science Review, Canadian Journal of Political Science, International Journal of Comparative Sociology and Turkish Studies.

My dissertation was awarded the 2011 Juan Linz Prize for Best Dissertation by the Comparative Democratization section of the American Political Science Association (APSA). I demonstrated that inequality does not diminish after democratization, and I asked why it is that new democracies cannot generate income equality. I adopted a multi-method technique to test the theory of my dissertation. I used one large-N regression analysis and two paired case studies. The case studies examined two regions in Europe that were democratized during the Third Wave. I used the “most similar system” research design, pairing Turkey and Spain in southern Europe and the Czech Republic and Poland in the postcommunist region.

I am currently working on a book manuscript, based on my dissertation. The manuscript also includes updated analyses with newer data.